Mechanical memory apparatus for beet toppers or the like



Jan. 26, 1954 INVENTOR. MAPA/0N o #A usw/WW ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 26, 1954 JMEGHNICAL MEMOR BEET TOPPERS Vernon 0. Hauswirth, to- Dearborn `Motors Michaa corporation Y APPARATUS' FOR OR THE LIKE Royal Oak, Mich., assi'gnor Corporation, Birmingham, of Delaware .Application October! 17, 1951, Serial No. 251,767 11 Claims. (Cl.f56--121-.4)

This invention relates to ahmechanical: device for predetermining the cutting heightwof a'cuttingtool wherein thecutting tooll'is moved to the preselected cutting height after-an appreci able but predetermined delay.

It has long heen'fa problem to conveniently and accuratelyposition the cuttingheight of a cutting tool -in-a root'crop harvester forV topping the root crop'without #undue -wastage' of'. theV root crop. While theoperationof removing'the top is in itself a'simple operation, the whole,- process is `complicated by the* fact'that they successive elements of the root crop -do not project'fa uni form distance above the top ofthe ground. is particularly true in the case Oisugarheets `wherein generallywno two consecutive beets lare at the same .elevation-above' thecgrcundsurface, yet it is desirable tocut volT-aheut the same amount of topf fromreachbeet.

Heretofore `vheet toppingdevices 'have been provided .wherein av feeler device ewast positioned slightly in advance of a cutting toolaand through a mechanical or hydraulic linkage, -the ',feeler devceccontrolled the positionv cfthe cuttingtool.

However, this arrangement has twocloviousv vdis- In the -rstV-place, (the force .for moving the cutting device' wasggenerallyfderived directly from the,r feeler device; so that: elaborate counterxteighting arrangements zhad tov llee lemployed to minimize .the verticaly load carried hy the-feeler device. Secondly, sincethefeeleridevice necessarily had to precedcithefcuttingzelcment, the cuttingelement 'never accuratelyassumed a proper vertical position-in relation'ztoa particular eeetpassed-'iover by the feelerfdevice, for' when the machine had :advanced-A sufficiently to bring ythecutting eleinentto thegparticular heet, the feeier'devicef was v'heyondi such beetfand at axdiierentelevation.

advantages.

Accordingly,`it -is Van objectf-of'this invention f to provide -an improved Stool height setti-ng mechanism for a moving -iinplementwhich-'will accurately set a1 cutting tool. to aipredetermined tool height so that a1cut `of proper-height will be'madewhen the tool has. advanced to the cutting position.

.Anotherfobject of thislinvent'ionfis to provide an improvedtool height settingdevice for ya root crop topping .machine which preseleets the working height of the cutting tool toseveraabout the same amount of tcp from successive-elements gofrafroot lcrap 'whichv project unevenlyzahove ythe lground surface.

A urtherxobjectcof ythis. incentionis totprovide wmechanicalV memory: mechanism for 'correlating a mechanical memory device whichis ecornoniically manufacturable, positive-in'cperation, :and rof sturdy construction'tofwithstandf ruggedeld operations.

The specic 'nature :off thisi'inventionnas well :as other objects and advantages thereof, will become apparent to'- those skilled in'the art:v from the following detailed description4 taken?. in iconjunction with theattacheddrawing vicnwl'n'ch, hy way ofV preferred examplefonly,isillustrated one embodiment of this invention.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 fis `a longitudinal sectional view through a rootrcropfharvesting machine;aincoiA porating an irnprmfed tool height adjusting rdevice constructed inaccordance with`v this.' invention;

Figure 2 is a plan view of the machine shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 :isran enlargedsectional:detail view Figure 4s -istanienlarged fragmentary plarr View of the` cam `utilized for engaging "the 1 cam :pin locking` element with .the'cam pin.

Asshownon the: drawings t While `thef invention aboutto' be describedi is best 'applied to iroot icrop topping "machine which is utilizedv for lremoving thetopscff-aroct crop projecting above4` tl'iegrcund,L suchidcviceA is not limited theretbut'mayhe utilized-with other devices whereinid'clayed:operation ofi anzr'element to'tperform" a` required' function/s :required Accordingly, v there is rshownf .somewhaty schematicallyin Figure' 1, abeet topping `machine I0 which `comprises a :substantially :rectangular framev Ii ofibuilt up :angleiiron"constnuction Frame I I has a pair ofiflongimdinallyr disposed side-members' I ia separated at their forward ends byra transverse sangle: irontbar 1 I I yh respectively welded at itsl ends to .thesidemembers IIa. A second transverse angle shaped barli'cfis rcspectively Welded .at its vends to the vsidcirame members. I Ia .adjacent .thefrear ends. thereof.-v as rhestshotzzn inligures i .and1.,2. Ahuilt upitonglue I2 comprising ya .pair cof depending angle iron arms. Ihn-are respectively welded'to the lforward erfds'offframe'members ita. liv-shaped member I2b has its diverging ends welded to the lower portions of the depending arms I2a and a barlike tongue member I2C is secured by welding to the apex of V-shaped member |22). The V- shaped member I2b projects forwardly and is horizontally disposed for connection between the clevis plates |3a and |3b of a tractor I3. A clevis pin |3c pivotally secures the tongue member |2c to tractor i3. The rear end of frame I| is carried by a wheel I4. Wheel I4 is mounted on a shaft I5 which has its ends respectively journaled in a pair of depending plate-like brackets I6 which are secured by welding to the rear end portions of side frame members IIa.

Intermediate the ends of frame Il, there is secured to the top of such frame as by welding a transverse member or bar I6 of box-like construction. A shaft I1 is vertically journaled in the center of transverse member I6, as best shown in Figure l. Shaft I1 projects downwardly below the bottom surface of transverse bar I6 and a small bevel gear I8 is suitably secured to the end of such shaft. A transverse shaft I9 has its ends respectively jcurnaled in suitable bearing blocks 2D to the underside of the side frame members IIa. Shaft i3 has its axis radially aligned with the axis of vertical shaft i1. A bevel gear 2| is suitably secured on shaft i9 in cooperating relationship with bevel gear 2| so that vertical shaft I1 may be rotated when horizontal shaft i9 is rotated. Rotation of shaft |9 is effected by the ground wheel I4 which drives a belt or a chain 22. A suitable sprocket or belt pulley 23 is keyed or otherwise secured to shaft I5 adjacent the ground wheel I4 and a corresponding sprocket or pulley 24 is suitably non-rotatably secured to horizontal shaft I3 in longitudinal alignment with the sprocket or pulley 23 and chain or belt 22 respectively surrounds such sprockets or pulleys to effect driving of shaft i9.

A feeler member 33 or finder has its medial portion secured to the lower end of a depending arm 34, the arm 34 being suitably secured to a transverse bar 35 which has its ends respectively secured by welding to the side frame members Ila.

A rotary cutter 38 is provided for topping the root crop and comprises a dish shaped disc suitably secured to a shaft (not shown) journaled in a housing 39. Housing 39 has an integral lug 39a at its upper end which is pivotally mounted to a medial portion of a cross shaft 43 suitably transversely secured to the side frame members IIa, The cutter shaft j ournaled within housing 39 may be power driven by a flexible shaft 4|, as indicated in dotted outline in Figure 1, connected to the power-take-off 42 of tractor I3.

The feeler member 33 or finder is operatively connected to rotary cutter 38 by a mechanical memory device 50 whereby the cutter 38 isvertical'y moved to a position determined by the feeler 33 but only after a delayed interval proportioned to permit the cutter to advance linearly tothe position where the feeler member previously selected the cutter height.

The mechanical memory device 50 comprises a cam wheel 25 of reatively large diameter which is non-rotatably secured to the upper end of vertical shaft |1. Cam wheel 25 has a circle of equal angularly spaced vertical holes 25a around the periphery thereof. A plurality of cam rods 26 are respectively snugly inserted within the vertical holes 25a. Cam rods 26 are locked in a selected position of vertical adjustment by locking pins 21. Such pins are inserted within radial holes 25h provided on the outer edge of cam wheel 25 respectively disposed opposite vertical holes 25a and in communication with the vertical holes 25a. The radial holes 25h are counterbored, as shown at 25e in Figure 3, to permit the insertion of locking pin 21. Locking pin 21 has a reduced diameter portion 21a which slidably fits within the hole 25h. An enlarged diameter portion 21h is integrally formed on the reduced diameter portion 21a and such enlarged diameter portion slidably fits within the counterbore 25o. A head portion 21e integrally provided on locking pin 21 projects outwardly from the enlarged diameter portion 21h beyond the peripheral edge of cam wheel 25. A spring 28 surrounds the head portion 21e and one end thereof abuts portion 2lb. Spring 28 normally biases locking pin 21 inwardly and to prevent displacement of spring 23 from counterbore 25e, an apertured nut 2G is screwed into a threaded counterbore 29a provided on the outer extremity of counterbore 25C. The reduced diameter portion 21a of locking pin 21 has a conical point 21d which cooperates with a plurality of annular serrations 26a provided on each cam rod 26 to yieldingly secure the cam rod in a selected position as will be later explained.

Adjacent the forward end of frame I I, there are provided a pair of upstanding angle arms Hd which are respectively welded to the side frame members I la. A similar pair of upstanding arms IIe are secured by welding to the side frame members IIa at a medial portion thereof. The upright arms Ild transversely support a cross shaft 30 which has its ends respectively journaled in suitable brackets welded to the forward faces of the arms Ild. A selector yoke 3| is pivotally mounted on a central portion of cross shaft 3B and is so positioned by a pair of transverse pins 3|a on such cross shaft. Yoke 3| straddles the forwardly facing edge of cam wheel 25 and overlies the cam rod circle and contacts the ends of the cam rods passing therebetween. The inner faces of the yoke arm ends are concaved slightly, as shown at 3 Ic in Figure 1, so as to permit contact with the ends of cam rod 26 through the range of pivotal movement of the yoke 3|. Yoke 3| has a forwardly projecting integrally formed arm 3|b and a link 32 is pivotally secured by a bolt 32a to such arm in depending relationship. The lower end of link 32 is pivotally secured by a suitable bolt to the forward end of the feeler member 33 previously described.

A yoke 36 substantially identical to yoke 3| is similarly mounted between the uprights |Ie. Yoke 36 has a rearwardly projecting arm 36a which corresponds to arm 3 Ib. A depending link 31 is pivotally secured to the rear extremity of arm 36a and the lower end of link 31 is pivotally secured to the aforedescribed rotary cutter 38.

As was previously mentioned, this invention is particularly useful when applied to a topping machine for removing the tops of a root crop. Hence, when the tractor is aligned over a row of beets for example, as shown in Figure l, the feeler member 33 will then rest on one of the beets. As the beets project varying heights from the ground surface, it is obvious, therefore, that the feeler member will be correspondingly pivoted vertically about its pivot point 33a on arm 34. Accordingly, as the tractor moves forwardly along the row, the feeler member will then be moved up and down. Thus, through the connection of link 32 with the arm 3 Ib of yoke 3| and feeler member 33. yoke 3| is rocked about cross shaft 30. Note that this linkage places very little vertical loading on the .,arcuately ,shaped edges 43a 5 bfeeler. 'The'forward mcwement'of-'tractor''L t3 will, ofcourse,n effect rotationfo'f ground `wheel |14 -f and Lhencecam wheel=25 will* beerotated;"thus-thecam rods 26 carriedby-cam-Wheel 2-5-will -passfbetween yoke I3 l Pivotal movement ofr yoke `3 l will --then position the ,ca-rn rods vertically in the cam wheel-as thecamwheer?. 5 rotates. AstheyyolreE 3l is epivoted A`in f accordance with the movement lof feeler lmem-oer y33;, `the Asuccessive v4earn rods :28, 4passing throught/oke 4ing heights as determined v-by *the movement y of yoke "3L vThe-biasofsprings 28 is such as I-to lightly engage thev conicalpoints 27d with serra- 'tions 6a thereby serving to'maintain suchrods Iin. ther position selected'- by- Iyoke i3 I untill lockedA in 4place-aas will be vpresently described. It -willa^be evident-therefore, 'that4 yokey 3 l -will position -t-he ycam rods '26o-into acam path-or'gtraxzls thefpattern or-which isgoverned'- bytheyvarymg--height ofthe beets-andwill, therefore, producea movement of yoke 36 Ycorrespond-ing-gto Ythat Yof yoke3l as `Vcam rods-2 t`v pass'throughsuch yoke. Hencethe rotary cutter '38V Will -be raised Y or' lowered in accordance with, and -as Aa function of, the movement of 'feeleremenrber 33, rbut val. It-will also be appreciated that' the speed of --camwheel 25 is proportioned as to permit a half revolution thereof -to take place, from they time the-feeler-member 33 positions one ofthe cam rods '25 until such cam rod arrives-at the cutter Ayolre`36f-while the Aimplement travels vthehorizon- -tal distancey between feeler member '33 and cutter 38. iin-other Words, ythe cam Wheel 2'5 rotatesv a halfrevolution from the timev the'feeler member Apositions one ofthe cam rodsZS While cutter 33 travels' linearlyto arrive at the spot the feeler member had positioned thatparticu'larcam rod Vwhereupon the cutter will be lpositioned at a height Whichis an exact'function Vofthe height of the feeler member Whent was atthe same spot.

4In order torock yolef, it w i1l, ,oi` k'soursajoe necessary' t0 vertically lock each of the cam. rods 26` in the position selected. byyQke, 3 I- .whensuch cam rod engages yolsejm,v Accordingly. itis necessary toholdjthej locking pin 2'1 against axial .dis- `:placement with conical point 27d neneaeement with. aselectecl one. of` tneserrationsgea provided on.. earn rod 2li. is conveniently ,accomplished by an. arcuate eamnwhich,comprisesessentiaily .a U :shapedmember having arcuatelyshapedforvward edgQsASa, as besty shown inoFigure .4. The

are preferablyl described by an arc. strucky fromy the center. of. earn Wheel v25. -Cam 43 is horizontally mounted adjacent the rear edge of cam Wheel 25, as best shown in-EiguresivZfandrl. Y...osait ,oirodsfzllvrespectivelysecuredas-by woldngetothe rear face of cam 43 project rearwardly where they are respectively secured, as by Welding, to the Shaftsup- A'porta'.ng yoke 36. Gamen-thus,partiallysurrounds the rearedge of cam -wheel 25. cylindrical segment'cam -surfaceh43lr is provided on theinsi'de of cam member 43 and such surface is described by an arc of greater radius than that of the cam Wheel 25 so that the entering and departing edges of cam surface 43h are spaced a greater distance from the peripheral edge of cam wheel 25 than is the center portion of such surface. Thus, the head portions 21e of locking pin 21 may readily enter cam 43, but as cam wheel 25; revolves, the cam surface 43h will hold the locking pins against outward displacement whereupon the conical end 2lb of pin 21 will be locked in engagement with only after a delayedinter- J-tingdisplacements the "opposite fserratcnis- A26a fprov'ded on 4cam --rod 26.

"From the v above description, it will .'-belearly Aapparent that* there is hereA provided a mechanical memory device whichrwillaecurately -prede- Ctermine the-height toA whichfa cutting :tool-offen implement :should be -fset in order .that it will accurately 4severv theV urwvantedl portion` ofwa `root crop.

0r, 'more broadly speaking, this inventionfprorvides a meclfianical memory device lwhich -wi'll accurately reproduce a` displacement of one shiftable element as a proportional displacement-'Qta second 4sh-iftable element occurring a predeterminedtime v`after the ldisplacement; of such Efirst element.

It twill, of course, be understood that :many details of' construction may be varied througheI A.widerange-without departing from. the principles ofr` this invention and: it is, therefore, not tho-pur- -poseto limitv the patent granted' hereon-otherwise than'necessitatedbyt -efscope 'of the appended `claims.

iIfclaim:

1. A mechanical memorysdevice for 1 transmitrting displacements oiga s-hiftable selector element .to a shiftable working element aftera 'delayed yinterval comprising VAa movable cam ^carrier, @mea-ns lfor drivingk said cam oarriersat a selected rate, a plurality of cam elements shifter-bly mounted onsaid carrierin-consecutivearray Vith. respect to the direction ofanovement of said carrier, means operatively connected vto said selector element for continuously positioning successive :cam elements relative toV said carrier 'in :accordance with the :instantaneous position of saidselector element, therebyarranging said cam Yelements in :a camA path, .and means: subsefluently engageahle f by .said -ea-m Yele-ments success-lively-Jand operatively connected to-said Work- 'i-ng elementfoiw shifting said-Working elementfin accordance with-said cam path.

ZET-he. combination Ydefined :1in-claim 1 @plus :meansffor locking said cam elements--aga-i-nst displacement.relativel to said cam carrier whilevsaid `cam e elements are-engaged lby said means .'for :shifting said Working element.

A3.'I1he combination definedl in claim 2. wherein e themeans for lockingsaid cam elements includes :meansefor'resil-iently opposing displacement vof :said cam --elements Withrespectto saidl cam `carrienA throughout the entire movement ofesaidfeam carrier.

4. A meel'ianical memory device forI transmitof ashiftableV selector'element 1 to a shiftable Working element-aiterha 4predeter- -mined time #delay comprising a rotatable cam wheel, mean-s 'forf driving I said 'cam Wheel at g a Aiselectedrate, :a `plurality` of ea-m elements vish-ift- -eably .'mounted -on said Vvcam --w`hcel 1in -v a circular array; means operatively-ccnnected Itosaid selec- 'tor element-'forcontinuous-ly positioning succes- :sive cam-elements-relative tosaid cani Wheelin accordance with Itheii-istantaneous 'position of said selector element, thereby arranging said cam elements in a cam path, and means subsequently 5. The combination dened in claim 4 plus.

means for positively locking said cam elements 6. In a machine having a movable member, a device for continuously adjusting the movable member to a preselected position comprising a cam holder having a plurality of adjustable cam elements, selector means for continuously and successively adjusting the cam elements to denne a cam path in accordance with the movement of said selector means, and means operatively connecting the movable member with said cam path whereby said cam path imparts a movement to the movable member corresponding to the movement of said selector means but only after a predetermined interval.

7. In a row crop machine having a cutting element for topping root crops, a feeler member movably mounted on the machine, said feeler member being constructed and arranged to contact the root crop for movement in response to height variations in the root crop as the machine straddles and moves along the row; the improvements comprising a cam wheel having a plurality of movable cam elements, means for rotatably mounting said cam wheel on the machine, means for driving said cam Wheel in timed relationship to the linear speed of the machine, means operable by said feeler member for respectively positioning said cam elements in said cam wheel proportionally to the height variations in the root crop, thereby dening a cam path, and means operable by the cam path defined by said cam elements to eect delayed vertical movement of the cutting element as preselected by said eeler member.

8. In a row crop machine having a frame and a cutting element vertically adjustably mounted on the frame for topping root crops, a feeler member mounted on the frame and constructed and arranged to contact the root crop for movement in response to height variations in the root crop as the machine moves along the row; a device for preselecting the cutting height ofthe cutting element comprising a cam wheel having a plurality of movable cam elements disposed in a circular array, means for rotatably mounting said cam Wheel on the machine, means for driving said cam wheel in timed relationship to the linear speed of the machine, a selector yoke pivotally mounted on the frame, said selector yoke being constructed and arranged to respectively contact said cam elements as said cam wheel revolves, means for operatively connecting said selector yoke to said feeler member, whereby said ieeler member respectively positions said cam elements in said cam Wheel proportionally to the height variations in the root crop to denne a cam path, a cutter positioning yoke mounted on the frame constructed and arranged to contact said cam elements at a substantial angular distance from said selector yoke, and means operatively connecting said last mentioned yoke with the cutting element whereby said cam path imparts to said cutter positioning yoke a movement corresponding to that of the selector yoke but only after a delayed interval.

"n Number 9. The combination dened in claim 8 plus means for locking said cam elements against displacement relative to said wheel as they pass between said cutter positioning yoke.

10. The combination defined in claim 8 wherein said cam Wheel has a plurality of radially disposed holes in the peripheral edge thereof respectively communicating with said cam elements, plus locking means for said cam elements comprising a plurality of locking pins respectively slidably mounted in said radial holes of said cam Wheel for limited longitudinal movement, said locking pins having point portions, spring means respectively biasing said locking pins in engagement with said cam elements, a plurality of serrations on said cam elementsI and cam means adjacent said cutter positioning yoke engageable by said locking pins to positively hold each of said locking pins in rigid engagement with the corresponding cam rod while said cam rod passes through said cutter positioning yoke.

1l. In a row crop machine having a frame, a cutting element mounted on the frame for topping root crops, and a feeler member mounted on the frame and constructed and arranged to contact the root crop for movement in response to height variations in the root crop as the machine moves along the row; a device for preselecting the cutting height of the cutting element comprising a cam wheel having a plurality of angularly spaced, vertical cam rods slidably mounted adjacent the peripheral edge thereof, means for rotatably mounting said cam Wheel on the machine, means for driving said cam Wheel in timed relationship to the linear speed of the machine. a selector yoke pivotally mounted on the frame, said selector yoke being constructed and arranged to respectively contact said cam rods as said cam whe-el revolves, means for operatively connecting said selector yoke to said feeler member, whereby said feeler member respectively positions said cam rods in said cam wheel proportionally to the height variations in the root crop, thereby dening a cam path, a cutter positioning yoke mounted on the frame constructed and arranged to contact said cam rods at a substantial angular distance from said selector yoke, means for locking each of said cam rods in the position selected by said selector yoke as said cam rods pass through said cutter positioning yoke, and means operatively connecting said last mentioned yoke with the cutter element whereby said cam path imparts to said cutter positioning yoke a movement corresponding to that of the selector yoke but only after a delayed interval.

VERNON O. HAUSWIRTH.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date 895,722 Bungeroth Aug. 11, 1908 908,790 Mallam Jan. 5, 1909 2,486,915 Botimer Nov. 1. 1949 

